Sacramento, Calif. – County Code Enforcement has recently changed the way they do business when dealing with complaints about blight, junk, rubbish and general neighborhood nuisances to help property owners who have received complaints and increase compliance.
Effective September 1, when Code Enforcement receives a complaint, a letter will be issued to the property owner with details of what must be corrected and by when. If the property owner needs more information, or the complaint is complex, they may request an in-person visit by an officer at no charge. Officers will talk with the property owner, educate them about what needs to be corrected, take photos for documentation and let property owners know if the situation is not corrected there will be a $470 fee on the next visit. If an officer comes out a third time, and the situation is not corrected, there is an additional fee of $335.
“We think this will do a better job of working cooperatively with residents to preserve neighborhoods and prevent blight,” said Carl Simpson, Code Enforcement Chief. “And the higher fee will get people’s attention as well as help cover our actual costs. This is about working together for the community, not about levying fees.”
The Department of Planning and Community Development is a department of the Municipal Services Agency, a customer service organization of the County of Sacramento to provide innovative, efficient and effective residential, business and environmental services to the region’s neighborhoods and communities and to engage residents in the decisions affecting their neighborhoods. Through its customer service model, the 10 departments that comprise the Municipal Services Agency are dedicated to protect, preserve and enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods, business centers, recreation venues and wildlife corridors.